Beck, Sea Change - SACD vs DVD-A

I have not heard the SA-CD version but I have the DVD-A version and it has great sound.. I would grab the DVD-A version if I were you.... especially at $21

The fact that you get a cracking Hi rez album in surround and seven Videos contemporary to the album make the DVDA a winner for me. No way the SACD can beat it

Without getting into a discussion of which format MAY be better, short answer is "yes". Get the DVD-A.

I bet dollars to doughnuts that if you had both and did a level matched DBT you couldn't tell the difference. Also the original recording is done in LPCM so the DSD SA-CD must be trans-coded.

And even if someone COULD (or thought they could) tell a difference, they would not know which was which and would most likely be hard-pressed to decide, upon extended listening to different tracks, which "difference" they preferred.

I have the DVD-A and it sounds fantastic. I also chose it over the SACD (I bought it new and they were a dollar or two different) because of the video extras. At the current price differential, jump on the DVD-A.

I have both, I can't tell the difference in audio quality. The DVD-A has videos, which is a bonus. The SACD isn't even hybrid, so definitely go for the DVD-A!

IMHO,

shinksma

i never even knew beck when i bought the dvd-a years ago, it has to be the best sounding disc i have, i cant believe you found it for $21, better get it fast, btw what is the source

I can tell you that I *would* be able to hear the differences, with a decent enough sound system, and quite clearly.

Anyway, that's another timeless debate that probably shouldn't be gotten into, as well ...

Well, you let the cat out of the bag, now.

Why do you think you would be able to tell the difference? I'm talking about a perfectly level-matched, blinded comparison with (if applicable) identical bass and time management.

As I said, you may be able to tell a difference between the two, but you would be hard-pressed, blinded, to choose which one you preferred with extended listening to multiple tracks.

I have both, and they're both excellent. Like others said, with the dvd-auido you get the videos and it's easier to archive. Whether there's a difference: sure, but I couldn't tell you which is better!

Exactly.

Anybody heard the MoFi Ultradisc CD version yet?

i think 20 bucks is a great deal for that disc, better get one

The consensus is that the Beck dvd-A stands out. It is just short of Kamakiriad by Fagen which is the gold standard dvd-A in my opinion.

Unfortunately, Kamakiriad is a near impossible to find disc.

I would say Kamakiriad is worth $50-$75 bucks (a round of golf or a night out at a good restaurant) if you want to hear the best. Actually it sounds so good i am almost afraid to get it out of the case for fear of mishandling it.

Why not The Nightfly, Morph the Cat, Two Against Nature, or Everything Must Go? Hard for me to choose between those.

Kamakiriad is the best because Snowbound is the best sounding track I have ever heard.

I have all of the Steely Dan and Fagen DVD-A's and they all sound great, but Kamakiriad, on my system and setup, just sounds better than anything I have ever heard.

I actually have Nightfly on Mobile Fidelity Vinyl, CD, and DVD-A.

Laugh. Funny that you mention this track. One of my faves, too. Kamakiriad was my best sounding CD when it come out. And it is definitely one of my best sounding DVD-As. But I would be hard-pressed to decide between those I listed.

Yeah, Steely Dan / Donald Fagen certainly got multi-channel sound right. Another of my definite favorites is 'Gaucho' on SACD. Can't listen to this enough.

Hi there!
I have both formats. I first bought the dvd-a and I was shocked with the quality, fidelity and mix of this record, besides the unique melancholic air that is present in the music, something I really enjoy. Some months later I found a copy of the SACD for just 80 pesos ($6dls aprox.), a bargain I didn't want to pass over. So I can tell, as David Scott wrote, there's a difference between both formats: I can tell that I found the SACD more soft and I could tell I get a sense of space I can't get in the dvd-a, but in the dvd-a I hear everything as closer and more clear I think this is called fidelity. Honestly I couldn't say which sounds better. This is not the case with Bjork's Vespertine, I have both formats (dvd-a is 48/24) and SACD is jaw dropping you can hear every detail and you can hear Bjork's voice as if she was in front of you.

So I can't tell which sounds better but for sure dvd-a has an advantage with the extras.

But what you absolutely cannot do is attribute any difference, real or imagined, as being strictly due to the difference in the two formats. You just can't. Period. There are just too many variables both during production and upon reproduction on your system to do that.



Same reply as above.



An SACD or DVD-A version may indeed sound different or even better than the other to you, but you CANNOT KNOW "WHY?".

Shure this CD sounds great (If you can make it through the entire album)!!!

Are you referring to the microphones used?

Or, you referring it's a little on the depressing side? And you might end up with you wrist slit It's one of those albums that conjured some kinds of emotions, especially if you're on the outs with your lady, or your man( I don't judge) with it's breaking up themes.


Djoel

Ha,
Yea this is the one. Sure it is LOL

They list a DVD, but not a DVD-Audio disc.

Hmmm, looks like I missed out on this one, I don't see a DVD version listed anywhere on that site. Bummer, I'd love to have it to compare to my SACD version.

Here for $39.